Nelson Reflects On 25th Anniversary Of Challenger Accident

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, the only sitting Senator to have flown in orbit, reflects this week on the 25th anniversary of the January 1986 Challenger accident and the importance of space exploration to the nation.

Nelson and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden flew aboard Columbia on STS-61C, which landed just 10 days before Challenger blasted off on its 10th and final flight.

A Melbourne native, Nelson was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives at the time and flew as a payload specialist on NASA's 24th shuttle mission. U.S. Sens. Jake Garn, R-Utah, and John Glenn, D-Ohio, both of whom are now retired, are the only other legislators who flew in space while serving in Congress.

If you have six minutes and four seconds, check out Nelson's You Tube video HERE